And the Tottenham legend believes Harry Winks will have found the ideal home if he sets up base with the new Rangers boss.

Warburton is on the trail of the 19-year-old midfielder as part of his restructuring at Ibrox.

Having taken White Hart Lane youngster Alex Pritchard on loan to Brentford last season – and moulded him into a top performer in the Championship – Warburton is eyeing a similar swoop for Winks.

And Mabbutt can think of few better places for the teenager to go, reports the Daily Record.

The Scottish Championship may not seem like the ideal breeding ground for a future Premier League star, however, Mabbutt says the appointment of Warburton will change the thinking of his old club. As far as the Tottenham Ambassador is concerned, it’s not where you play but who you are playing for.

In Mabbutt’s eyes, Warburton’s teams play the Spurs way, with an emphasis on attractive, attacking football. So he sees big benefits for both parties if Rangers can persuade Winks to move north.

The 53-year-old, who made almost 500 appearances for Tottenham, said: “It would be a fantastic move for Rangers to sign Harry and I absolutely believe it comes down to who you are working with.

“If you are a Tottenham player, the club’s tradition is for the passing game, moving the ball quickly, playing the game with quality.

“If that is your philosophy there seems little point in sending one of your young players on loan to a manager and a team that plays a long-ball game and are scrapping for everything.

“When you are sending a young player on loan, you do a lot of due diligence on the clubs they are going to play for.

“You want those players brought through in a way which suits Tottenham. Mark showed that last season with Alex Pritchard at Brentford. He brought him along so that shouldn’t pose a problem with Rangers .

“Mark is a really good guy. He likes working with young players and has a great idea on how the game should be played.

“Pritchard did fantastically well last season with Brentford.

“Tom Carroll has also been doing really well out on loan in the last few years with Leyton Orient, Derby, QPR and Swansea.

“I believe that is the way we have to go now and I know Mark Warburton well.

“He only lives five minutes from me – well he used to!

“Mark did superbly well at Brentford and perhaps was not treated as well as he should have been.

“But Spurs will be aware of what Mark did with Pritchard last year and having players working with him seems an ideal situation.”

Spurs are set to see the benefit of Warburton’s work with Pritchard in the coming campaign.

With Harry Kane and Ryan Mason progressing from the academy into the top-team under coach Mauricio Pochettino last term, the Londoners have the next batch on the conveyor belt at White Hart Lane.

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Winks is one of those being groomed for the top and Mabbutt hopes to see him eventually take the step into the Tottenham side.

He said: “It’s always a difficult one for young lads coming through.

“Harry got into the first-team squad a couple of years ago but, like all young players at the highest level these days, they go for loans. He is an England Under-19 international and one of our next ones coming through.

“Bringing youngsters through from your academy is the aim of every club.

“In this day and age they are getting fewer, especially at the top level.

“This is an emphasis for Tottenham and one of the reasons why Mauricio was brought on board.

“He has a great reputation for bringing youngsters through the system. Mauricio was phenomenal doing it at Espanyol and Southampton.

“Being honest, 18 months ago, we were looking at Kane and Mason, wondering if they could make the step up from going out on loan or being development squad players to the first team.

“They were in and out and had a few chances but it wasn’t really happening for them.

“Mauricio then came in last year, gave them both an opportunity and they both grabbed it by having great seasons. Giving these youngsters a chance is vitally important.

“We see players coming through and wonder if they can step up to the first team.

“Is he going to be a player for the future of the club?”

With this in mind, Tottenham will put a lot of thought into Winks’ next destination if Warburton makes his move.

Pochettino and his coaching staff will weigh-up the pros and cons of any switch.

But as far as Mabbutt is concerned Rangers are a good option and he says the SPFL Championship promotion hopefuls would be landing a good talent if Winks arrives.

It’s a massive season for Gers as they bid to bounce back from the disappointment of losing out to Motherwell in the play-offs at the end of last season.

They will face stiff competition for the title from the likes of Hibs and St Mirren in what promises to be another exciting season in the second tier.

Warburton needs to hit the ground running but Mabbutt believes he will be a success at Ibrox – especially if Winks comes on board.

He said: “Harry has been looked at in a variety of positions and midfield seems to be the one which he has made his own.

“But, again, it’s tough to gauge them without them playing at the highest level.

“Mark definitely has potential and ability. He is a local lad who has always been close to the area.

“Overall, he is a decent lad and working with Mark would be good for him.

“It depends on whether or not Tottenham want him to go or whether they see him stepping up. If it is feasible, I’d be very happy for him to be working with Mark at Rangers next season.”